Ghaziabad: Detained overnight, 22-year-old Yash Khatik was arrested on Monday for the murder of his fellow para-athlete Chirag Tyagi. Police also took into custody Gagan Tyagi (23), who had allegedly helped Yash procure the pistol used in the killing.Payment for the pistol was, ironically, made by Chirag, who was a friend and mentor to Yash. Police have traced the transaction to Chirag’s Paytm account, but it’s not clear if Chirag knew about it or he had just helped Yash out with a payment. It was sourced through Gagan from a now absconding supplier, Abhinav alias Abhay, a week before the May 30 crime.The story has unravelled as one of profound betrayal. “Chirag and Yash shared a deep friendship. It was at Chirag’s request that coach Gajendra Singh allowed Yash to train at JLN Stadium in Delhi,” DCP Dhawal Jaiswal said on Monday. After committing the murder, Yash allegedly used a blank cheque he had obtained from Chirag to withdraw Rs 3.25 lakh from the victim’s account at Bank of India, intending to flee the country. The account had Rs 4.25 lakh in prize money that Chirag had won at two competitions.Yash features in the many photos Chirag posted on his Instagram account. Both competed in the T-12 category for visually impaired athletes who cannot see beyond 2 metres. But their careers had moved in opposite directions. Chirag represented UP at the national level and had recently won gold at the Indian Open Para Athletics International competition in Bengaluru. He also qualified for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.Yash, however, was found ineligible for the Youth Asian Gamed in Dec 2025 by World Para Athletics (WPA), which rejected documents submitted to certify Yash’s disability, ruling them insufficient. Chirag had helped compile the documents. Yash believed it Chirag had deliberately filled incorrect details to sabotage his career, according to police.The two had met seven years ago at a local ground in Muradnagar and quickly formed a close bond. It was Chirag who took Yash to coach Gajendra Singh at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi about a year ago and requested his training under him. The two shared Room No 20 at the JLN Stadium hostel.“Chirag brought Yash to me. He supported Yash in every way, including financially, and personally prepared his competition documents,” Singh said. Whenever Yash needed money, protein supplements or other essentials, Chirag provided them. “They were like brothers,” the coach added.Yash’s attitude towards Chirag changed after the rejection, according to Singh, who stopped training Yash following the WPA ruling. Chirag, however, continued to help him and offer training advice, Singh told TOI. On Saturday, Yash called Chirag and told him villagers in Muradnagar were planning a welcome ceremony to celebrate his Asian Games selection. He also claimed he was in Delhi and persuaded Chirag to share a cab home. The two met outside JLN Stadium, where Chirag had been staying after returning from Bengaluru.During the journey, Chirag apparently tried to comfort Yash, telling him that his own selection to the Games would come in due course. But Yash directed the cab towards Mahamaya Stadium near Hindon at Sai Upvan. The two got out and walked together for a short distance before Yash allegedly pulled out the pistol and shot Chirag twice from behind.Before opening fire, Yash is believed to have told him: “Chirag, this is the same track where you and I started our careers — let us end your life and my career here.”According to the postmortem report, the first bullet struck the back of Chirag’s head and lodged in his forehead. The second entered through his back and exited below the heart.After the murder, Yash travelled to his village Basantpur Sentli in the same cab. Chirag’s body was recovered from Sai Upvan on Saturday. Police said efforts are under way to trace Abhinav.
